| VOL. 5, NO. 2
"Have your tenants or office workers had these symptoms: nausea,
fatigue, sinus congestion, dizziness, eye irritations or coughing and sneezing
attacks? If so' the problem may be tiny airborne particles in the ducts or toxic
emissions from paints or carpet. Each day, everyone in your workplace inhales
two tablespoons of dust particulants. In fact, indoor concentration of
pollutants can be up to 100 times greater than outdoor concentrations.
Building owners and managers throughout America are searching for solutions to
this "sick building syndrome." One place to begin looking may be
looming directly over head in acoustical ceiling tile and HVAC ductwork
(heating, ventilation and air conditioning). Acoustical ceiling tile is
porous and soft so it acts like a sponge. It absorbs air particles such as,
nicotine, dust, pollen, cooking grease, and other harmful odors. It also absorbs
harmful pollutants like those found in most paints and carpet fibers. Any
chemicals used for cleaning are absorbed by the ceiling tile.
| Where does all this dirt and moisture come
from? Dirt can come from construction debris, poorly filtered air, and a variety
of other means. Moisture is always present in air conditioning systems from
condensate pans and high humidified air. Another source of the problem for
the "sick building syndrome" is in the building ductwork. Mold and
mildew growth are rampant. Dirt and moisture support mold growth. |
high humidity sections of the HVAC system. Next, replace or clean existing
ceiling tiles. Painting over the existing surface only traps the pollutants to
ensure they will be around for a long time. Old surfaces can be cleaned by
removing dust particles then applying a non-toxic cleaner to displace stain and
sanitize the tiles. Remember, any surface can support mold and mildew
growth. Generally, the rougher and more porous the surface, the greater the
possibility of mold and mildew growth. Currently there are no regulations
that state buildings must use anti-microbial materials. However, only a few
years ago lead paint and materials containing asbestos were outlawed. In the
near future it may be mandatory to use anti-microbial materials that keep
bacteria and fungi from growing. There are anti-microbial paints, wall
coverings, linoleum and carpets currently on the market for those wanting an
alternative. Unless you choose anti-microbial material your best keys for
solving your indoor air problems are: good design, construction, equipment and
maintenance. |
